Ethnic stereotypic attitudes among Israeli children: Two intervention programs

The study examined stereotypic attitudes of Israeli children toward Arab and Jewish children and their alteration with two intervention programs implemented in the classroom, one textual and the other audiovisual. Participants completed stereotypic attribution questionnaires, prior to and following administration of the interventions and appropriate matched control programs, which were applied concurrently for 6 consecutive weeks. The assumption that Jewish children hold more negative stereotypic attributions toward Arab than toward Jewish children was confirmed. The hypothesis that both programs reduce negative stereotypes for Arab children in the experimental as opposed to the control groups was confirmed. The programs were effective for ethnic stereotypes specifically and did not affect attributions evoked by sex of target. Theoretical and educational implications are discussed.